Blog
Iran, I blog
by monique t
News / October 30, 2006
Want the inside scoop on Iran?
Expat Iranian blogger Hoder, aka Hossein Derakhshan, appeared on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.
He talks about Iran, bloggers, the influence of blogs on politics, and why Iran should have nukes. Watch the video.
Want more?
See www.raincoast.com/weareiran:
We Are Iran provides a portrait of contemporary Iran using that nation's blogs as its primary source. Author Nasrin Alavi has translated the Farsi blogs to English and has provided a cohesive commentary to help readers better understand the politics and culture of this virtual community.
Got Video of a Great Travel Moment?
by monique t
News + Travel / October 30, 2006
Lonely Planet is running a video competition. The prize is a $7500 USD ($10,000 AUS) journey around the world, plus the opportunity to check out Lonely Planet Television in action in Melbourne, Australia. There are monthly prizes too.
View videos and enter online at lonelyplanet.com/lessthanthree
Competition ends January 15, 2007.
Online IFOA Coverage
by Dan
October 30, 2006
Over the course of the 10 day International Festival of Authors (IFOA) in Toronto, Raincoast authors received some wonderful support from the online community.
First off, the festival themselves were running a blog. Early in the proceedings, the IFOA asked authors if they had read Joyce's Ulysses. Patrick McCabe (Winterwood), Tom McCarthy (Remainder) and Jon Mcgregor (So Many Ways To Begin) all gave answers. The blog also presented a special feature on graphic novelists Jaime Hernandez, Phillip Dupuy and Charles Berberian. Also mentioned were Seth and Ralph Steadman. Photos of the graphic novel events featuring Jaime, Phillipe and Charles are posted here.
The Torontoist did a great job of covering the festival throughout and ran a excellent feature on self-described ‘cartoonist' Jaime Hernandez (Ghost of Hoppers, Locas and the forthcoming Maggie the Mechanic) as part of their IFOA coverage. Toronto's Eye Magazine also made the Love and Rockets author their cover story and the interview is availble online. Jaime was interviewed by filmmaker Jerry Ciccoritti on Saturday October 21 for the festival.
On Thursday October 26 Inkstuds posted on the irrepressible author and illustrator Ralph Steadman. Ralph ‘read' (he actually showed slides of his work) at the festival on Friday October 27 and was interviewed by Ben McNally manager of Nicholas Hoare in Toronto on Saturday October 28. You can hear the Inkstuds podcast on CiTR.
Ralph was very generous with his time and memories during his stay in Toronto and he did a lot of long, expansive media interviews, so expect more updates soon.
It is perhaps no surprise that Ralph Steadman was included in The Torontoist's list of the 5 Hot Tickets for the IFOA, but I was also really happy to see debut novelist Tom McCarthy, author of Remainder and Tintin and The Secret of Literature, in their selection. Tom was part of a roundtable discussion with Caroline Adderson, Eden Robinson and Timothy Taylor on Thursday October 26 and read from Remainder on Friday October 27 in the company of Clifford Chase, author of Winkie, Ralph Steadman, and Patrick McCabe.
The Torontoist also interviewed Tom McCarthy during the festival and Monique posted about the online reviews for Remainder last week on the Raincoast blog.
You can also read my very long, slightly nerdy interview with the Tom here. Tom is smart as a whip by the way.
Katherine at BlogTO added to her excellent book coverage and produced some wonderful podcasts from the IFOA. Her interviews included Tom McCarthy and Jon McGregor. Both interviews really are terrific (you can also her talk to Clifford Chase, author of the excellent Winkie, and Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai as part of the same podcasts) and they definitely worth downloading.
The IFOA blog also mentioned (way back in August!), of course, that So Many Ways to begin was long-listed for the Booker Prize. It didn't go on to win unfortunately, but don't let that put you off what is a beautiful book by an exceptionally talented young author. August seems like such a long time ago ...
Books in the News
by monique t
News / October 30, 2006
I'd like to point out the incredible news pieces and awards for a couple of books published or distributed by Raincoast.
The current issue of Reader's Digest has the big (22 page) excerpt of WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT by Katy Hutchison. Also the premiere of the CBC TV Gill Deacon Show features Katy. The show starts today at 11:00 a.m. PST and repeats at 2:00 p.m. PST.
EMPRESS OF ASIA by Adam Lewis Schroeder was reviewed recently in Globe and Mail.
“This is a compelling, heartbreaking and witty book that will stay with you long after you've put it down.”
“Schroeder is skilled at leaving hints here and there, but never fully giving away the secret. So in the end, the reader is presented with a wonderful, ‘aha!' moment.”
“Brilliantly written.”
“This book is just plain superb. I wish Adam Lewis Schroeder all the success he deserves.”
Lots going on with awards too. All the following books are nominated in their respective categories:
Red Cedar Award (best book as selected by B.C. students in grades 4 to 7)
STILL THERE, CLARE by Yvonne Prinz
FRANCESCA AND THE MAGIC BIKE by Cynthia Nugent
Silver Birch Award (best book as selected by Ontario students in grades 4, 5 and 6)
STRANGE NEW SPECIES by Elin Kelsey
THEY DID WHAT by Jeff Szpirglas
Red Maple Award (best book as selected by Ontario students in grades 7 and 8),
MONEY, MONEY MONEY by Eve Drobot
Golden Oak Award (best book as selected by new readers in adult literacy programs)
PAUL MOVES OUT by Michel Rabagliati
National Parenting Publications Awards Gold selection
I FOUND A DEAD BIRD by Jan Thornhill
Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada 2006 Information Book Award Finalist
ARE YOU PSYCHIC? by Helaine Becker
Win Tickets to the Play Gonzo and a copy of the Novel Empress of Asia
by monique t
Contests + Fiction + History + News / October 27, 2006
UPDATE: Congratulations to the winner, Suanne of Richmond.
....................
Win two tickets to the Lyonesse Theatre's production of Gonzo and a copy of Adam Lewis Schroeder's novel Empress of Asia.
Gonzo runs from Nov 1 to 12 in Vancouver at Norman Rothstein Theatre (950 West 41st Ave, at Oak St.).
How to enter:
In the comments field tell me a story, preferably about why you'd like to attend the play Gonzo or read the book Empress of Asia. Perhaps you have a story about WWII?
Share your story for a chance to win two tickets and a book.
A winner will be drawn at random on October 31.
Gonzo is written by and directed by Gordon Pascoe and is based on his experience in a Japanese prison camp in Shanghai. (Find out more ...)
Empress of Asia by Adam Lewis Schroeder is about Harry who met his wife Lily during WWII, and the secret she's kept from him for 50 years. (Find out more ...)
See the original post on the Raincoast blog.
Online Reviews of Remainder by Tom McCarthy
by monique t
Fiction + News / October 27, 2006
Ron Nurwisah of Torontoist.com says, “A man is put into a coma by a falling object. He goes on to receive an 8 million pound settlement and with his newfound wealth obsessively tries to recreate a scene that he may have once witnessed. This is the premise for Tom McCarthy's Remainder, possibly one of the most imaginative novels to come out of the UK in the last few years.” Read his full interview.
Chris at Spikemagazine.com says, “It's not often I read an entire novel in one sitting, but I did with Tom McCarthy's Remainder. Whether that's a testament to the gravity of my insomnia last night or Tom McCarthy's novel, I'm not sure, but Remainder certainly didn't put me to sleep.” Read more.
Keir at KeirWilmut.com says,
“The nice people at Raincoast Books sent me a copy of Remainder, and asked if I'd review it. What remains of a person after a near-fatal trauma? What does it mean to be authentic? These are two of the questions posed by Tom McCarthy's first novel, Remainder.” Read Keir's review.
Janelle at Eclectic Closet says,
“Tom McCarthy's artistic eye is apparent in Remainder, translating into vividly described settings. The setting is as much a character as our nameless narrator. Readers are immersed in the setting which is invoked at such a visceral level that one feels the sunbeam warming one's skin as the narrator lays in a sunbeam and smell the liver wafting through the ventilation system.” Read Janelle's review.
Raincoast publicist Dan also had a chance to talk to Tom McCarthy. Here's his 3-part interview.
ADDITION:
Scotchneat.ca says,
“What I liked most: the little moments of description where the author captures precisely the kind of internal loops that we've all experienced, such as when he's on the way to the airport to pick up a friend and realizes he forgot the flight information.” A quote from the book is included then, “It seems like a quotidien passage to pick, but I think McCarthy has an ear (eye?) for the jetsam of the human mind that reminds me a bit of Don DeLillo. That austere and somehow darkly funny insight of how the mind goes, that we can all recognize in ourselves. All the more alarming when it plays out the way it does. The passages where he describes what rehab is like become the internal workings of his pet projects: break everything down to its constituent parts and then execute them (well, maybe literally, even).” Read Scotchneat.ca's review.
Win Theatre Tickets and a copy of Empress of Asia
by monique t
Contests + Fiction + History + News / October 26, 2006
Win two tickets to the Lyonesse Theatre's production of Gonzo and a copy of Adam Lewis Schroeder's novel Empress of Asia.
How to enter:
In the comments field tell me a story, preferably about why you'd like to attend the play Gonzo or read the book Empress of Asia. Perhaps you have a story about WWII?
Share your story for a chance to win two tickets and a book.
A winner will be drawn at random on October 31.
Other stipulations and hoo-hah:
The play is in Vancouver so you need to be here or get here on your own.
Word of mouth really helps local plays and books so if you attend Gonzo or read Empress of Asia, please post your review in the comments field.
About GONZO
Lyonesse Theatre presents the Vancouver Premiere of Gonzo, written by and directed by Gordon Pascoe. Gonzo is a heart-warming story of humour, compassion, and humanity in a Japanese prison camp in Shanghai, 1942-45. (Find out more ...)
Venue:
Norman Rothstein Theatre
950 West 41st Ave (at Oak St.)
Preview: Oct 31
Show runs: Nov 1 to 12
Tickets: Box Office at (604) 257-5111 or Lyonesse Theatre at (778) 230-7671, or book online at
www.bryher.ca.
About Empress of Asia by Adam Lewis Schroeder
Empress of Asia is a sweeping story that spans the years between the end of World War II and 1995. Harry, coping with the looming death of his wife, Lily, is shocked to discover that she has kept a secret from him for years. Before her death, Lily asks Harry to contact Michel Ney, the man who saved Harry's life in World War II before being killed by the Japanese--or so Harry had always believed. Harry journeys to Thailand, piecing together details of past years.
Lakefield Literary Festival
by monique t
News / October 26, 2006
One of Raincoast's newsletter readers sent me the link to a literary festival:
http://www.lakefieldliteraryfestival.com/
Lakefield Literary Festival celebrated its 12 season July 14th to 16th , 2006. The date was chosen as the weekend closest to Margaret Laurence's birthday, and the festival showcases many current Canadian authors.
Have you participated or attended this festival? Let me know what it's like.
The images in the about section look lovely. The festival is located in the village parks and churches, and on the grounds of Lakefield College School.
Thank you James for the link.
Pyongyang by Guy Delisle
by monique t
Graphica + News / October 26, 2006
Famously referred to as part of the “Axis of Evil,” North Korea is one of the most secretive and mysterious nations in the world today. A series of manmade and natural catastrophes have also left it one of the poorest. When this fortress-like country recently opened the door a crack to foreign investment, cartoonist Guy Delisle found himself in its capital of Pyongyang on a work visa for a French film animation company, becoming one of the few Westerners to witness current conditions in the surreal showcase city.
North Korea's recent nuclear tests have forced open the door a little further on the country, its people and its leader Kim Jong II. But unlike the recent documentaries and news reports on North Korea, Guy Delisle was able to observe more than was intended of the culture and lives of the few North Koreans he encountered. His astute and wry musings on life in the regime form the basis of his travelogue and graphic novel Pyongyang. (Guy's latest book is Shenzhen: A Travelogue from China.)
Images from Pyongyang:
--as shown on Time.com
Tom McCarthy Interview (Part 3)
by Dan
Author Q & A + Fiction / October 26, 2006
In the final part of the interview, author Tom McCarthy (Remainder and Tintin and the Secret of Literature) talks about the publication of his debut novel Remainder and the International Necronautical Society.
(Read Part 1 and Part 2)
Raincoast Blog: Remainder has had an interesting route to publication. How did you end up at Metronome Press and how did Alma Books come into the picture?
Tom McCarthy: I finished Remainder in 2001, but the conglomerates wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole. To be fair, some editors pushed quite hard, but couldn't get it past their marketing departments, acquisition boards, whatever they call the ones who actually call the shots. So I involved myself more with art projects for a while - art projects which were actually literary projects in disguise. The art world is very literate. Virtually no one I met in publishing in the UK had actually read much literature beyond contemporary middle-market stuff, but artists, curators, critics and so on are super-literate. Some of them were even doing work based on the writings of Beckett, Huysmans, Robbe-Grillet and so on. So I found a kind of refuge in that arena. And it was in that arena that I met Clementine Deliss, who set up Metronome Press with Thomas Boutoux. They're both curators and critics, and they wanted to do a project around the legendary Olympia Press, which operated out of Paris in the 50s and 60s and published (in English) people who the conglomerates also wouldn't touch with a barge-pole: Beckett, Burroughs, Trocchi, Nabokov, people like that. Olympia was very tied in with visual art, and with soft porn, and Metronome Press wanted to emulate that - re-enact it, you could say. So in late 2005 they published my book and three others, plus ‘Teasers' that had erotic imagery from contemporary artists alongside excerpts from the books. They were determined that this was an art project, not a publishing one. So when Remainder was getting big press reviews and the UK chain stores were asking for it, they still only distributed it in art galleries and institutions. Then Alma came into the picture and produced a mass-market edition in 2006.
RB: Are you glad Remainder wasn't taken up by a large publisher in the UK, or do you just think about the millions that you could've made?
TM: Funnily enough, as I was signing up to Alma after the good reviews and the general buzz, one of the biggest of the bigs, who'd rejected it on two separate occasions before, came running in trying to gazump them, offering my agent I don't know how much. We were like: ‘It's the same book now as it was then. F*** you.' You've got to work with people who actually support what you want to do, or it'll all go wrong a year or two down the line. I've signed with Vintage in the US, but that was because they came across it, tracked down Metronome (which wasn't easy) and took it on their own initiative. The Editor-in-Chief, Marty Asher, said to me: ‘I don't know if one hundred or one hundred thousand people will like it as much as I do, and I don't care. It's what I want to publish.' And he can: he's got the power. He's like a fairy godmother. So's Clementine Deliss. And Alma. I wonder how many other serious novels there are out there that haven't found fairy godmothers yet. I'm lucky. Three years is nothing.
RB: What are you working on now?
TM: I'm editing the manuscript I wrote before Remainder, Men in Space, which Alma will bring out next spring. It's a novel about disintegration set in Prague during the break-up of the former Eastern Bloc. And I'm working on a new novel called C, about technology and mourning.
RB: I came to your artwork relatively late. Could you explain the International Necronautical Society to me?
TM: The INS is a construct, a cultural fiction that gets played out in both virtual and real spaces. It's got the bureaucracy of a Kafka novel (committees, sub-committees, sub-sub-committees), the political austerity of Stalinist governmental bodies (denouncing enemies and former members, issuing proclamations and so on), the cultural bombast of early twentieth century avant-gardes (it was launched with a manifesto very much modeled on the Futurist one of 1909), and the subversive viral energies of Burroughs and Debord (we infiltrated the BBC website a few years ago, inserting INS propaganda in its source code which only a network of a few hundred people could access). The INS is most visible when we hold Hearings, interrogating other artists and writers in front of press and public, publish reports or let public spaces such as the Institute of Contemporary Art in London host our FM broadcasting units; but it's operative all the time, everywhere. We are all necronauts - always, already.
RB: I get asked this all the time by people in the book industry, so I am going to ask you - were you tempting fate by calling the book ‘Remainder'?
TM: Remainder is the right title. It's about aftermaths, residues, what's left when everything else has been said, shown, repeated, taken away. In terms of the book industry it's the right title too: it was left behind, but it's still there.
Reviews of Remainder:
Ready Steady Book
The Midnight Bell
Other interviews with Tom McCarthy:
3AM Magazine
Tom McCarthy will be appearing at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto on October 27th and 28th, 2006.
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